[Racer Duck]

Tough Times For Champ Car World Series Get Even Tougher
By Anne Proffit

While waiting to see who’s fast and who’s furious in the first round of pre-season testing for the NHRA’s POWERade drag racing series, I’ve been privy to several rounds of sad news that should upset anyone who remembers the glory days of Championship Auto Racing Teams.

As one who worked that circuit from 1984, I’ve always had a soft spot for CART/Champ Car or whatever you want to call it. Despite what you may think, I’ve always wanted to see the series that once boasted the best drivers, the finest circuits and outrageously fine competition survive and, yes, thrive.

It seems those hopes are without merit, thanks to two news items that have crossed my desk to the inbox today.

As widely expected, 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Championship titleholder Raphael Matos has foregone his $2 million award for winning the title in a very competitive season. (It’s seemed like Atlantic has become the awe-inspiring championship that CART once was, hasn’t it?)

Indeed, the Atlantic troops have had plenty of news, with the two Mansell brothers taking to the track for Walker Racing, James Hinchcliffe returning to Forsythe Championship Racing and J.R. Hildebrand voicing pleasure with his first Genoa Racing outing. That series has teams, drivers and even a sponsor or two hanging around, which is more than one can say for the “premier” group of Champ Car.

Now Matos, 26, is taking his talent to Andretti Green Racing and Gary Peterson’s AFS Racing, as the two squads again combine for a second season in the Indy Racing League’s Indy Pro Series.

The next batch of news (or is it still a rumor?) to emanate before this long holiday weekend – Monday is Martin Luther King Day – came from unconfirmed, but reliable sources. A lot of reputable websites have said that Tony Cotman, Champ Car’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Race Director, is leaving that post. Was this due to the signing of Johnny Unser to head up technical operations for Atlantic? We don’t know, but we are dismayed by this news, if it is true.

Cotman, the 43-year-old Kiwi who formerly worked with Barry and Kim Green, has been the one person who hasn’t taken guff from anyone in the Champ Car hierarchy. He’s reprimanded drivers; he’s told team owners off; he’s answered to a higher authority – proper competition.

Tony told my colleague Robin Miller that he was leaving on good terms, so if Miller says it’s so, it must be true. That’s definitely a black eye for Champ Car.

more...

[Bob Tanner]

"Cotman, the 43-year-old Kiwi who formerly worked with Barry and Kim Green, has been the one person who hasn’t taken guff from anyone in the Champ Car hierarchy. He’s reprimanded drivers; he’s told team owners off; he’s answered to a higher authority – proper competition."

"...he's answered to a higher authority - proper competition." Hmmm...???

Based solely on Ms. Proffit's words, he sounds like a bonefide winner to me.

Note to NA__AR: Take a look at this guy. This is exactly what NA__AR is currently lacking.